By Zephyria 
He simply wanted to believe Ho-eun’s words. He wanted to take him back, give him a warm bath, feed him a bowl of herbal medicine, lay him down on the warm floor of the room where the fire was stoked high, cover him with two thick layers of cotton quilts, and just hold him tight while they slept. Then, that nasty Gobul would probably vanish before it could even take hold.
Tae-muk was meticulously planning this, his brow furrowed in concentration, when Ho-eun wiggled closer and spread Tae-muk’s arms wide. Then, he naturally slid between his armpits and tucked himself in. Tae-muk let out a small chuckle at the sight of Ho-eun before turning his gaze back to the sky.
After that, the two of them looked up at the sky in silence.
“…….”
“…….”
The deep blue, high winter sky was beautiful in its winterly essence. The sunlight falling upon their faces was pleasantly warm, contrary to the season. Even the cold air felt refreshing in that moment.
Then, as an unnamed bird flew across their field of vision, Ho-eun asked in a small voice.
“Ipchun is coming soon; will it get warm here too? It will probably only get warm around the time the sprouts bloom in the village below and the flowers have fully blossomed and begun to fade, right?”
“Probably.”
“…….”
“But no matter how late it is, spring always comes eventually.”
At those words, Ho-eun looked at Tae-muk. Even his profile had the distinct, masculine contours of a man. To think such a face could say that spring eventually comes. Ho-eun marveled softly.
“……Those are wonderful words.”
Tae-muk cleared his throat at the compliment. He hadn’t said it to sound wonderful, but hearing that he did made the area around his shoulder blades feel strangely ticklish. Yet, it wasn’t a bad feeling, and it made him wonder if he should try reading some books like Ho-eun.
“Then, will the day ever come when the Devouring Ghouls all disappear?”
“It will. We’re running ourselves ragged trying to kill them all, after all.”
Tae-muk replied nonchalantly, then secretly wrinkled and smoothed his nose. He wished he had given a cooler answer. He felt annoyed, worrying that Ho-eun might think, ‘The way a commoner speaks never truly changes.’
“…….”
However, Ho-eun was looking at Tae-muk, gauging his life—the years he had spent killing Devouring Ghouls on the battlefield. Ho-eun, who had only stepped onto the battlefield a few months ago, couldn’t possibly know everything. Still, it wasn’t hard to guess that Tae-muk must have suffered terribly.
“It must have been hard for you.”
“What was?”
“Every path you took to get here.”
“…….”
Tae-muk’s breath hitched for a moment. His eyes grew clouded. It was because the time, the paths, and the people he had passed through were flashing before his eyes. After a brief silence, he gave a short answer.
“It was.”
“…….”
Ho-eun pressed his lips tight. That simple affirmation made his heart ache. He wished he had become a Bondmate sooner. Why was he so late? Was it because his body wasn’t healthy? He resented his frail body, wondering if he would have Manifested earlier if he had been healthier.
Tae-muk rolled onto his side and smiled, the corner of his mouth curling up.
“But it’s okay now. Because I have you.”
“…….”
At those words, Ho-eun’s chest swelled. A subtle heat crept into his cheeks. Being recognized as useful was something that remained purely joyful no matter how many times it happened. It felt so good that he couldn’t tell if he was lying on snow or on a cloud.
Swallowing his dry saliva repeatedly, Ho-eun also rolled over to face Tae-muk. Then, he spoke softly and deliberately.
“I am truly happy that I am your Bondmate, and that I can be someone who is helpful to you, General.”
Ho-eun expected Tae-muk to smile at his words. But Tae-muk did not smile. Instead, he stared intently at Ho-eun and said something unexpected.
“It’s not because you’re my Bondmate that I like you.”
“……Pardon?”
“The reason I cherish you is because you are you.”
“…….”
“I like you for who you are.”
He gently stroked Ho-eun’s cheek with the back of his finger. Then, he slid his hand down to stroke his braided hair, finally fiddling with the silk hair tie. The texture of the silk slipping through his fingertips was familiar, yet strange. It was because Ho-eun’s hair tie conflicted with that of another person.
As Tae-muk fiddled with the hair tie with an unreadable expression, Ho-eun suddenly flipped over. Supporting his upper body with his elbow, he gave a quick mwah. He kissed Tae-muk’s cheek.
“…….”
Tae-muk raised his eyebrows high at the sudden kiss. As he looked at Ho-eun with surprised eyes, Ho-eun buried his face deep into Tae-muk’s chest. It seemed he had become shy after doing it.
“Thank you… for cherishing me.”
Tae-muk stopped breathing for a moment at Ho-eun’s words. Then, he murmured as if sighing.
“How can you be so…”
Beautiful.
How are you my Bondmate? How is it that heaven has paired us together?
Until now, heaven has given me nothing but misfortune, so what wind blew to give me someone as lovely as you?
Tae-muk hugged Ho-eun’s back and buried his nose in his hair. He thought that even if he couldn’t wipe out the Devouring Ghouls until the day he died, and even if he had to roll around this battlefield filled with blood until the moment he closed his eyes, it would be okay.
As long as Ho-eun stayed by his side like this, he felt he wouldn’t even feel the pain if his limbs were torn and chewed a hundred, a thousand times.
Soon, Ho-eun also wrapped his arms around Tae-muk’s waist. Then, the two of them lay in the snow, holding each other without a word or a single movement. They listened to each other’s breathing, felt each other’s body heat, and took in each other’s scent.
And when the blue sky began to ripen into a yellowish hue, Tae-muk sat up.
“It’ll be cold once the sun sets. Let’s go back before then.”
“Yes.”
Tae-muk, who rose first, slid his hands under Ho-eun’s armpits and lifted him up effortlessly. Ho-eun floated up like a butterfly and settled into Tae-muk’s embrace. Then, he habitually wrapped his arms around Tae-muk’s neck. Holding Ho-eun, Tae-muk brushed off the snow clinging to his back and arms. As he did, Ho-eun whispered softly.
“I’m hungry.”
“What a surprise. We should hurry then.”
“Chilbok said he’d make cabbage pancakes for dinner. He said they’re pancakes from Gyeongsang-do. He mentioned they’re also called jjijim? Or jijim? Have you tried them?”
“I have.”
“I tried them for the first time today, and they were truly delicious. So much so that I want them again for dinner. They were even tastier than meat pancakes.”
“Don’t say that in front of Dong-ja. She’ll get angry like a bear, saying it’s nonsense.”
Ho-eun giggled at that. “Yes. I will keep that in mind,” he replied. Tae-muk, also wearing a smile, adjusted his hold on Ho-eun. Then, he began to head back to the garrison, back home.
* * *
“…….”
Ho-eun opened his notebook with his characteristically elegant and serene face. His expression was calm as usual, but his upper lip was twitching just slightly. It was because a fierce struggle was taking place beneath the wide desk meant for ten people.
Ho-eun pulled his hand away. Immediately, a large hand followed and grabbed it again. He twisted his wrist to escape, but he was caught once more. Ho-eun struggled desperately to break free from the grip, but he was repeatedly caught, touched, and entangled.
Eventually, unable to endure it, Ho-eun’s brow furrowed. If there had been no one around, he would have told Tae-muk politely, “General! Please! Maintain your dignity!” but since there were many onlookers, he couldn’t.
What should I do? How can I completely shake off this hand?
As he pondered this, a thick thumb pressed and stroked the back of his white hand. In that moment, Ho-eun whispered:
“It hurts.”
“…….”
Startled, Tae-muk abruptly let go of Ho-eun’s hand. Ho-eun quickly placed both hands on the desk. Tae-muk stared at him blankly, only realizing belatedly that he had been tricked.
“You…”
Tae-muk looked at Ho-eun in disbelief, but Ho-eun picked up his fountain pen with a face that suggested he knew nothing. His expression remained perfectly calm and elegant.
It was so aggravating. Tae-muk glared at Ho-eun in annoyance, but then, at some point, the corner of his mouth curled up again. The way he pretended to be a proper nobleman was so pretty and cute that it was practically a critical illness. With his arms crossed, Tae-muk watched Ho-eun without even blinking.
“Captain.”
Byeonguk called Tae-muk in a concise voice. Tae-muk snapped his gaze toward him. Only then did he see the soldiers sitting in a row behind Byeonguk. Tae-muk, brushing his bangs back carelessly, gestured with his chin.
“Yeah, start.”
Tae-muk gestured toward Byeonguk.
“Yes.”
Byeonguk stood up and headed toward a wooden board set up on one side. A large map was posted there, along with the drawings of the Devouring Ghouls’ tentacles that Ho-eun had made.
“…….”
Seeing this, Ho-eun took a short, deep breath. As they entered the full-scale search for the Devouring Ghouls’ lair, the leadership of the Crimson Rain Brigade held meetings every morning they didn’t set out on an expedition.
Originally, Ho-eun did not attend, but since he had become a quasi-expert by classifying the shapes of the tentacles, he began attending the meetings as well. Indeed, he was providing a great deal of help in planning the operations.
The meetings took place in one of the rooms of the house where Tae-muk and Ho-eun stayed. As always, Tae-muk sat in the seat of honor, with Ho-eun and Gil-sang sitting to his right in order. On the opposite side sat Byeonguk, with Dong-ja and Man-soo beside him, and several other leaders occupied the remaining seats.